DISQUALIFICATION OF POLLED CATTLE. 
621 
at the time you bought the bull, in the natural state of 
growth. You were aware of their existence, and I made no 
attempt to conceal them. 
Hoping this explanation will be satisfactory, 
I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, 
T. W. George, 
To Mr. Thomas Fulcher, 
Elraham, 
Cringleford ; June 181864. 
Dear Sir, —My brother has shown me your letter of this 
morning, and as far as his and my word may be relied on, 
the bull in question is descended from a line of ancestry of 
the most pure polled blood-red, free from all cross of horn or 
“ slug,” for more than fifty years. 
My father commenced the breeding of these blood-red 
home-breds at least for the length of time before-named, and 
I think they originally came from Mr. Reeve, of Wighton, 
and Mr. England, of Binham. During the life of my father, 
and more recently of my brother, I cannot call to mind more 
than two or three instances in which there was any infusion 
of fresh blood, and that always from pure polled bulls; and if I 
except the more recent instance of Mr. Birkbeck’s bull that 
he allowed my brother the use of, and I think he came from 
the herd of the late Sir E. Kerrison, Bart, we never con¬ 
sidered we derived any benefit therefrom. I expect there 
was a deal of the stain of my father’s blood in the late 
Sir E. Kerrison’s and Mr. Badham’s stock, for I know that 
some bulls and heifers went formerly through Mr. Etheridge, 
of Starston, in that direction ; but I have lost recollection, 
and I dare say Mr. Etheridge could tell you more than I can 
about it. Those of my brother’s have been bred very close 
in and in for the period before-named, for the reason, that 
bulls could not be obtained possessing all the characteristics 
of the pure polled breed. The bull in question, if he have 
any “ slugs,” it must be by pure accident only, for a more 
pure-bred animal I imagine it would be difficult to trace out. 
We have heard of such things as the horns being taken off, 
but we know f nothing of such practices here, and my brother 
has men on the farm who have been among the stock, and 
who must know if such there had been; and I know' you are 
open to make the fullest inquiry. 
I congratulate you on your general success at the Show. 
